Reykjavik News
Reykjavík to apply for European Green Capital Status
The City of Reykjavík plans to apply for a nomination as European Green Capital 2012 or 2013.
Each year the European Commission nominates one city as European Green Capital, with the aim to increase awareness of the importance of environmental issues in urban areas and to encourage cities to develop healthy environments for their citizens.
Reykjavík City authorities hope that a possible nomination will help promote the beauty of Reykjavík's setting, the city's usage of sustainable energy sources and innovation in energy issues.
The mayor of Reykjavík, Ms Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir, claims Reykjavík has all the qualities to become a European Green Capital. "Immense work has been carried out regarding environmental improvements in the last few years and citizens themselves have proactively shown their enthusiasm for these issues", she says. "The City of Reykjavík has been taking ambitious steps towards becoming more green, for example by combining the divisions for the environment and transport into one division, and having recently taken the lead among municipalities on agreeing on a new climate and air quality policy. More exciting projects are currently underway, for example action plans for better cycling facilities and the advancement of electronic car ownership."
About the European Green Capital Award
The European Green Capital Award is an award for European cities dedicated to creating a green environment for their citizens.
The European Commission has long recognised the important role that local authorities play in improving the environment, and their high level of commitment to genuine progress. The European Green Capital Award has been conceived as an initiative to promote and reward these efforts. Starting in 2010, one European city will be selected each year as the European Green Capital of the year. The award is given to a city that:
Has a consistent record of achieving high environmental standards;
Is committed to ongoing and ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development;
Can act as a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practices to all other European cities.
Improving the global environment
The award marks a city's wish and capability to solve environmental problems in order to both improve the quality of life of its citizens and reduce the contribution it makes to the global environment as a whole.
Click here for more information about the award.
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